Galleria Borbonica, History museum in Naples, Italy
The Galleria Borbonica is an underground tunnel system beneath Naples containing large stone arches, ancient water storage tanks, and interconnected chambers spread across several hundred meters. The network of corridors reveals how this subterranean space was carefully constructed beneath the city.
This underground passage was commissioned in 1853 to create a hidden connection between the Royal Palace and military facilities near Piazza Vittoria. The construction served the royal family's need for a secure route through the city.
The names and messages carved into the walls show how Neapolitans used this shelter during World War II, leaving their marks as a way to remember their presence during difficult times. These writings offer glimpses into everyday life during the conflict.
Access to this site requires joining a guided tour, which operates on specific days and can be entered through two different locations. Advance booking is necessary due to limited availability.
Workers discovered remnants of a sixteenth-century water system during excavation and had to incorporate these into the new construction without disrupting the flow. This overlap of old and new infrastructure created an unexpected engineering challenge.
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